A mass spectrometry based chemical sensor consisting of a headspace autosampler directly coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer was used in three different food and flavor applications; strawberry flavors, whiskeys and soft drinks. This instrument integrates multivariate data analysis in which the mass spectra of the samples are used as fingerprints. Inconsistencies in raw materials were examined by analyzing flavors. Possible adulteration was studied by analysis of two whiskies. Multivariate models were able to detect whiskeys aged for different periods of time. Differences in similar product lines were studied using four soft drinks. Using this chemsensor differences were observed in one soft drink packaged in aluminum cans and plastic bottles.

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GERSTEL Headspace ChemSensor System

GERSTEL Headspace ChemSensor System

Unlike traditional electronic noses that are based on solid-state sensors, the GERSTEL ChemSensor System use proven quadrupole mass-spectrometer technology.

Benefits:
  • The GERSTEL Headspace ChemSensor System is unaffected by moisture in the sample, ambient humidity, or ambient temperature fluctuations. It is also immune to sensor poisoning.
  • Quadrupole technology enables customized screening and classification for multiple applications on the same system.
  • The GERSTEL Headspace ChemSensor System can ignore ions associated with dominant sample components – such as alcohol in wines or acetic acid in salad dressings – and model only the critical factors that differentiate samples.
  • Ions in a suspect sample that are not present in a good sample can be monitored in subsequent analyses using GC/MS. This can reduce troubleshooting time substantially and puts you steps ahead of e-noses that do not have this correlation capability.
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